Harassment will further alienate Muslim youth, says MP

Hyderabad, Sep 26 (IANS) A Muslim Member of Parliament has voiced concern over indiscriminate arrests and harassment of ‘innocent’ Muslim youth by branding them terrorists and warned that the ‘conspiracy’ to implicate and defame the community would further alienate the youth.Condemning the recent acts of terrorism in the country, Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi Friday said the law enforcement agencies should probe these in an impartial manner without preconceived notions or by jumping to conclusions immediately after the blasts. Owaisi was addressing a huge gathering after ‘Jumatul Vida’ (last Friday of Ramadan) prayers at the historic Mecca Masjid here.

“There have been blasts at several places during the last one year. At all these places, minutes after the blasts, names of organisations and persons involved were flashed on television screens. Every time there is a blast, the police come out with names of Muslim youth without even preliminary investigations,” he said.

The young MP questioned the ’softness’ of authorities towards right-wing Hindu organisations fanning communal hatred and alleged that some of them were even carrying out bomb blasts. “There was a blast at Bajrang Dal office in Kanpur on Aug 25 when the bomb being prepared by Bajrang Dal activists went off. No arrests were made,” he said.

He claimed that the Muslim youth killed with Atif in the recent encounter in Delhi was innocent.

“Why Atif was gunned down when he could have provided all the information. How two persons managed to escape when the police force had laid siege to the building. These questions should be answered,” he said and pointed out that the police officer killed in the encounter was shot from behind. “Who shot dead the police officer. His widow and the entire nation want an answer,” he said.

Owaisi said the ‘conspiracy by some forces’ to malign madrassas and clerics and to implicate educated Muslim youths was aimed at ‘terrorising’ the Muslim community.

The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) MP said the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992 and Gujarat riots in 2002 affected the thinking of the Muslim youth. “There is a perception among the Muslim youth that this democracy has failed to address their grievances, come to their rescue and live up to their expectations. Some of them are taking the law into their own hands. I advise them not to resort to this and have patience,” he urged.